Transportation Alternatives Program 2026

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, administers the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program to enhance the intermodal transportation system by supporting safe alternative transportation options. The TA program utilizes federally designated transportation funds to support smaller-scale, non-motorized projects that include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school initiatives, and projects that support community enhancements such as historic preservation and environmental mitigation. Approximately $8 to $9 million is available annually through a competitive selection process overseen by SDDOT’s Office of Project Development. Applicants may request up to $600,000 for a single project, with a minimum of $50,000 for infrastructure projects. There is no minimum for non-infrastructure projects. All awards require a minimum local match of 18.05 percent. Funding can support a wide range of eligible activities, including on-road and off-road trail facilities, conversion of abandoned rail corridors, turnouts and overlooks, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation measures such as stormwater management and habitat restoration. Eligible applicants include local governments, transit agencies, natural resource and public lands agencies, school districts, tribal governments, regional transportation authorities, and certain nonprofit organizations. Projects do not need to be located on Federal-aid highways and must demonstrate compliance with ADA and other applicable design standards. All applicants are responsible for maintaining completed projects and must coordinate with SDDOT throughout the design and construction phases. The application process begins with the mandatory submission of a Letter of Intent by July 15, 2025, which initiates a site visit and mandatory development meeting. Only those who complete these steps may submit a full application by October 1, 2025. A recommendation committee will review applications and make project recommendations by November 19, 2025. Final approval rests with the South Dakota Transportation Commission. Applications are evaluated based on specific scoring criteria including project type, transportation relevance, planning compatibility, feasibility, community support, safety, public value, economic impact, and design compliance. Required application components include project descriptions, budgets, maps, letters of support, resolutions, and maintenance plans. All attachments must be submitted digitally, and applications must adhere to a 30-page limit, not including certain supplemental documents. For questions or to discuss a potential project, applicants are encouraged to contact Logan Gran, Active Transportation Engineer, at [email protected] or 605-773-4912. More information is available on the SDDOT Transportation Alternatives webpage.